Popular Topics

The Magazine

Let us take you on a journey of the world. Each issue of the Gear Patrol Magazine comes packed with adventures, guides and stories exclusive to the magazine. Stunningly designed, printed on high quality stock and ready for your coffee table. Subscribers received 15% off the GEAR PATROL STORE. Biannual. $35.

The Newsletter

Get GEAR PATROL in your inbox with the DISPATCH, including Today in Gear and all our new stories. Daily, 5pm. Free.

Every picture of you or your family look entirely stiff and wooden? Well, then stay the hell away from WoodSnap ($40+), an online print company that takes your photos and prints them right out onto a block of wood. The beautiful custom wood canvasses (all the way from 8 x 8-inches to 30 x 40-inches)...

The Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam ($200) is specifically designed for the serious narcissist video web blogger (we will never, ever use the word ‘vlogger’ — don’t say we haven’t got any dignity) and, while it only works alongside Apple products, the additional HD video options it introduces add a sense of professional quality to your...

Director Wes Anderson’s most recent (and perhaps most Wes Andersony) film to date, Moonrise Kingdom ($20), is now available on crystal-clear Blu-ray — obviously the best way to watch a movie that looks like it was shot on film equipment from the ‘60s. Featuring customary Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, the film also...

The average human being spends somewhere around 200,000 hours of their life asleep, which seems like a lot of important time wasted dreaming of the Swedish Bikini Team. But, like your doctor, your mother and every health teacher you’ve ever had has droned at you again and again, sleep is important to a healthy life....

Guitar lovers will want to own MacKenzie & Marr acoustic ($1,000+) after just a few strums. Unfortunately, unless your jam session buddy already has one in his basement, you’ll have to buy one of the company’s hand-carved lady magnets before plucking a single note. It sounds strange, but the guys behind these axes decided to...

While the nickname never really made much sense, the simple fact that Neil Young was called the “godfather of grunge” in the 1990s proved the influential and staying power of an artist who first came on the scene in 1966. In the upcoming Waging Heavy Peace ($17), a 66 year-old Young talks about his early...

We hope savvy travelers have finished trekking their way through 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada ($25), because more trips are on the way with The New York Times, 36 Hours: 125 Weekends in Europe ($26). As you’d suspect, this follow-up compiles the same excellent “36 Hour Departure” travel articles as its predecessor —...

YBUY.com is a new Netflix-like service for gadgets that lets members “try” an array of home electronics before committing to purchasing them. Simply sign up for the $25 per month subscription service and then pick any product offered on the site. YBUY will then mail it to you free of charge, and allow you to...

Can you believe the classic matchbook hasn’t been updated in over 100 years? That’s changed with the Strike match holder, a pocketable stainless steel match dispenser from product think tank Quirky that holds almost 50 matches. The modern fire-maker’s biggest trick is a strike-coated barrel that lights matches in one motion as they’re removed from...

Building upon their popular Sortie 26″ platform, Diamondback recently entered the 29er field with the Sortie 3 29 ($3,500), full suspension trail bike packed with technology and features. The larger wheels obviously contribute to the bike’s slightly larger size, but with the extra inches come several advantages — 29″ wheels have a larger angle of...

Robots and raw fish are Japanese mainstays, but the SmartXcissors 4-in-1 Multi-Purpose Cutting Tool ($40) basically amounts to artificial intelligence for the cutting world (*Note* legally we in no way advocate self aware blades, for the sake of humanity’s survival). These super scissors combine a wire cutter, box opener, serrated edge and flat blade to...

Panasonic’s TC-P55PVT50 is one of, if not the, best televisions on the planet. The plasma flat-panel is a steal compared to the pricier OLEDs and luxury LEDs on the market, but there’s nothing cheap about its deep black levels, accurate colors and beautiful design. Achieving brightness that competing plasmas could only dream of, its eye...

Although we’d still drink their famous single malt if it came splashing around in a McDonald’s cup, Scotch whisky maker Macallan insists on providing the same amount of attention and care to what goes on outside of the bottle as they do to what’s inside. Since its launch a couple of years ago, Macallan’s Masters...

If you’ve avoided enjoying the great outdoors because you can’t stand being cramped into a stifling claustrophobic tent, check out Stoic’s Arx Xl2 ($188), a tall camper 2-person tent that’s as lightweight as it is spacious. Although the entire structure takes up just 28 square feet of ground, the long and wide dimensions allow for campers...

Google TV has failed to make inroads in the exploding “Smart TV” market, but the Vizio Co-star ($99) could change its fate. This affordable Internet-ready console connects to either a satellite or cable TV box and combines live television with your favorite streaming services (like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video), along with Google Chrome for...

If you’re going to wear an apron, it better be the manliest, most rugged, heavy-duty friggin’ apron the world has ever seen. We suggest Filson’s Tin Cloth Utility Apron ($95). Don’t put this thing on when you’re in the kitchen burning toast or poking some weenies around on the grill, though. This sucker is built...

Excited for this year’s upcoming election? Neither are we. Or we weren’t, that is, until we checked out Presidential Campaign Posters: 200 Years of Election Art ($27), an illustrated history of our country’s presidential election campaign propaganda. The Library of Congress-published tome features 100 removable, ready-to-frame campaign posters, each with a brief description of the...

Need more Dave Matthews in your life? How about on your table, in a carafe or by the bottle? Then you’re in luck, because the jam master himself has teamed up with famed winemaker Steve Reeder to craft a collection of wine designed specifically crafted to be drunk — not just another celebrity collaboration. Named...

If you’re really into watching or making movies, immerse yourself even further with the Condition ONE app. The startup’s groundbreaking video technology allows users to explore capturing full motion video at 180-degrees using the iPad, with full panning and tilting ability. Backed by some bigwig investors (like Mark Cuban), interaction with the video is an...

Grabbing ahold of the back of a moving car may seem like a good way to pick up some serious speed on your skateboard, but it is an even better way to end up in traction (and we don’t mean the grippy kind). If you want to move like you have a motor on your...

The portable speaker has come along way since the rad boombox days of the ‘80s. They’ve gone from resting on your shoulder to fitting in your palm, and can now play tunes from virtually any audio source. Unfortunately, there’s one area where improvements have faltered — sound quality. The NuForce Cube ($119) is a stylish...

Now that you’ve finally marbled out the kitchen counters, readied the Man Cave for football season, and upgraded the windows to the newest in energy-efficient double-paned glass, are you suffering from home-improvement withdrawal? Then this weekend try upgrading the first thing people see when searching for your house: your address. Modern Dwell Numbers ($28+) add...

Futuristic “bio-sensor” company NeuroSky has finally perfected what Professor X was born with — a brainwave scanning headset that can read your mind. Parts of it, at least. Designed for playing iOS and Android games, the MindWave Mobile headset ($130) can’t tell you what your enemies are thinking, but it can detect your levels of...

REI’s Camp Table XL ($100) knows its place — out of sight and out of your way until it’s called out for action. The aluminum / steel legged heat-resistant slat top unfolds into a large-surfaced table perfect for all the pots, plates, grills and whatever else you need for that campsite party. The individually adjustable...

Summertime as an adult is a tease. Instead of lazy days at the ol’ watering hole, the only change we expect in the warmer months is a little extra sweat when arriving late to a meeting. If anything can help bring us back during the fleeting moments away from the office, though, it’s the Floating...

Sure, you could argue the obnoxious styles of most biking apparel lines makes you more noticeable to vehicles on the road, but who cares about safety if you’re riding in clothes you wouldn’t be caught dead in? A new brand Search and State is challenging the notion of what cycling gear should look like with...

Pico projectors have teased geeks like us for years with the potential of carrying a theater-size screen in our pocket. Tony Stark’s candy land o’ holograms may still be a pipe dream, but European research group Fraunhofer has given us a titillating preview of where display technology is headed with the release of their smartphone...

High-end audio manufacturer Velodyne, known for making some of the best subwoofers on the market over the past few decades, is now bringing the bass even closer to your ears with the vPulse In-Ear Headphones ($90). As you’d expect, the vPulse’s provide incredible sound quality for the price thanks to 10 mm drivers encased in...

Gore Bike Wear’s Fusion GT AS ($280) might be the only jacket cyclists need all year. Whether you’re on the trail, on tour under the hot sun, or battling the freezing rain — the lightweight and extremely breathable Gore-Tex engineered shell provides protection from the wind and water, while still remaining comfortable. It’s nearly mountain-bike...

To celebrate the centennial anniversary of their iconic boot line, L.L. Bean recently introduced the Men’s 100th Anniversary Main Hunting Shoe ($140), a special 12-inch edition of the sturdy footwear that first made them famous. Available only in limited quantities, the boot is an almost exact replica of the ones invented and worn by the...

Meet the great-great-grandson of the dictaphone — the SpeechMike Air ($500). Specifically designed to meet the enormous demands of document-intensive professionals, the Phillips dictation device is now cordless and packed with some amazing features. The slick design and comfortable ergonomics complement the crystal clear recording quality and intuitive controls. While a typist isn’t included...

For the extreme adventurer, the risk of snapping a few limbs is all part of the fun. Breaking a bone is one thing, but breaking your camera? Now that’s just downright scary. Capturing your stunts in all their insane glory requires a rough-and-ready camera like the Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS ($400), a well-armored, yet sleek...

Bushnell boasts that if their award-winning waterproof 0x42 Legend HD Ultra Binoculars ($217) aren’t the best damn bino’s you ever used in your life, the company will happily refund every dime you spent. No questions asked. Do they have any right to be so cocky? Absolutely. The set’s ED Prime Extra-Low dispersion glass and Ultra...

Yes, you’re right, there’s more than enough travel booking sites on the Internet, but if we could just hold your attention for a few seconds, you may want to check out Superfly. Its unique engine uses all of your various travel account info when searching for flights, hotels and ground transportation to help locate the...

Luminox’s new Recon series was developed with the military professional in mind. That goal is clearly articulated by the line’s first offering, the Recon Point Man ($320). Designed in collaboration with former Swiss Army Military Security NCO Andrea Micheli, this rugged analog diver is perfect for not only the battlefield, but also for slightly less...

Featuring one part cutting board and one part food storage unit (with a waste disposal unit to boot), the Curtis Stone Workbench slicing and dicing the most exciting part of your meal — in the off chance it wasn’t already. Made from an Australian grown Victorian ash wood (from an eco-sustainable plantation), there’s no need...

If you’re getting rid of an old computer, be very careful about the data that you leave behind on the hard drive. Having someone steal your social security and credit card numbers would be bad enough, but think of what would happen if someone got a look at something much worse — like a glance...

The new VTech LS6195 ($60) phone can’t take pictures, stream video, or connect to Facebook. And, unless you’re rocking Hammer pants, it won’t fit into your pockets, either. But it can do one thing really well that your current phone may not: make phone calls. Unlike typical landlines, this unique “answering system” also embraces the...

There’s a healthy rivalry taking place over the future of the computer educational market, and the only clear winner so far are the students. Intel has put long-term competitor One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) on notice with their recent announcement of the Studybook, a new low-cost tablet loaded with educational software perfect for schools in...

Hot steamy nights are the stuff dreams are made of, but when it’s time to lay your head down for the sleep portion of the evening, it’d be nice to cool off with a pillow that doesn’t keep you sweating until dawn. And with the summer months coming up quickly, the timing couldn’t be better...

The radio alarm clock business has never been a particularly sexy one, not counting, of course, the occasional technological breakthroughs in snooze technology (we set ours at 9 min). But Geneva is waking up the sleepy clock radio industry with the Geneva Sound System Model XS ($250), a slick ultra-compact bluetooth audio system and the...

Need a floor plan? Well, you could mooch off your architect friend, track down the original contractor (good luck), or heaven forbid, grab a tape measure and do it yourself. Or you could just whip out your iOS device and download MagicPlan (Free), a clever augmented reality app from Sensopia, which leverages the camera on your...

Unless you’re a serious editor, investing the time and money to learn Avid or Final Cut can be a boondoggle, but now you don’t have to. WeVideo (Free+) is a simple video editing application that handles all your basic movie-making needs, and has three things going for it the big guys don’t: it’s online, it’s...

An all-tube, hand-wired P3 Guitar Amplifier ($650+) isn’t just a nostalgic replica designed to look liked a bad-ass amp from the golden age of rock. It’s built like one too, which means blasting out loud, clear tones, no matter how hard they’re driven or clumsily treated by a half-cocked roadie. Unlike frailer mass-produced amplifiers of...